Method for Producing Layered Rings

ABSTRACT

A ring formed of a first gold layer and second silver layer wherein the silver layer is more than fifty percent of the ring weight. The layers are bonded together with the gold layer on a portion of the outer surface to give an appearance of a ring formed entirely of gold. A method for fabricating the ring is also provided.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/085,464 filed Aug. 1, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a layered jewelry ring and method of fabrication whereby the ring is formed of two metal blanks that are bonded together.

The layered jewelry ring comprises

-   -   a. a first layer that encompasses a portion of the circumference         on the outer surface of said ring;     -   b. a second layer that encompasses substantially all of the         circumference on the inner surface of said ring;     -   c. a solder containing interface between said first layer and         said second layer;

whereby said first and second layer are bonded together to form a single fused assembly shaped into a ring.

The first layer and second layer can be formed of the same material or can be formed of different materials. Each layer is formed of a metal, alloy, or combinations thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the first layer is formed of gold and the second layer is formed of silver. The first layer of gold metal is about 0.05 to 0.50 cm thick and the second layer of silver metal is about 0.65 to 0.75 cm thick. The entire thickness of the ring is about 0.70 to 1.25 cm thick.

Preferably, the ring is formed such that the first layer is the primary visible layer when said ring is worn (i.e. when a ring is worn on a finger, about half of the ring surface is readily visible, the half that is on the back portion of a wearer's hand).

As used herein, the terms “gold” and “silver” refer to the metals and metal alloys commonly used in the art and are not limited to any pure composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the second layer comprises more than fifty percent the weight of said ring. In another preferred embodiment, the ring is formed of at least about 5% by weight of gold.

Also part of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a ring comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) laminating a first plate to a desired thickness forming a         first laminated plate;     -   (b) laminating a second plate to a desired thickness forming a         second laminated plate;     -   (c) cutting a first blank from said first laminated plate;     -   (d) cutting a second blank from said second laminated plate;     -   (e) stamping a shelf on said second blank forming a stamped         shelf;     -   (f) soldering said first blank onto said second blank in an area         defined by said stamped shelf, said soldered blanks collectively         forming a soldered assembly;     -   (g) passing said soldered assembly through an oven;     -   (h) stamping said soldered assembly in a press and forming a         bonded assembly with a fused edge;     -   (i) cutting excess edge from said fused edge;     -   (j) stamping a form onto said bonded assembly;     -   (k) shaping said bonded assembly into a curved ring shape having         two opposing ends;     -   (l) cutting a joint on the ends of said curved bonded assembly;     -   (m) soldering each of said ends one to another and forming a         ring; and     -   (n) polishing said ring.

The method may also include addition of desired designs, stone, stones, or combinations thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the first laminated plate is preferably gold metal. This first laminated plate is cut to form a gold blank. The second laminated plate is preferably silver metal. The second laminated plate is cut to form a silver blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a gold blank.

FIG. 1B is a top view of a silver blank.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a gold blank.

FIG. 2B is a side view of a silver blank.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a silver blank having a stamped shelf.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a joined assembly of gold blank placed on a stamped silver blank.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a joined assembly of gold blank placed on a stamped silver blank.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a trimmed gold blank placed on a stamped silver blank.

FIG. 6B is a side view of a trimmed gold blank placed on a stamped silver blank.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembled blanks that have been formed into a curved configuration having ends that are not yet joined.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the assembled blanks that have been formed into a curved configuration having ends that have been joined.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ring.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the ring along section lines A-A from FIG. 9

FIG. 11 is a cross section of an embodiment showing gold on about 60% of the outer circumferal surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Ring 10 of the present invention is formed by the permanent, bonded, and fused attachment of a gold blank 12 to a silver blank 14. As shown in FIG. 4, a gold blank 12 is secured to a silver blank 14 with a solder 16. Initially, when gold blank 12 is secured to silver blank 14 and pressed together a border region is formed of excess solder 16 and some edging of the two metals 12 and 14. This border region of excess solder 16 and edging of two metals 12 and 14 is referred to as a pretrim area 18, as seen in FIG. 5. Pretrim area 18 is removed, as seen in FIG. 6A, in procedures known in the art. Ring 10 is subsequently shaped in a curved configuration so that the joined gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 are formed into a substantially circular configuration. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, ring 10 formed of gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 is formed into a curved configuration and opposing ends 11 and 13 are joined with a solder 20. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, ring 10 has a polished surface 22 and a stamped or laser logo region 26 on silver surface 28. The laser logo is produced by laser engraving as is well known in the art. There are many commercially available machines available for laser etching and engraving on jewelry. Any type of machine that is suitable and known for laser etching and engraving may be used.

In laser etching, as the laser passes over the material, it is ablating the material, creating a constant depth and allowing fine detail.

In a preferred embodiment, stamped logo 26 is opposite a polished connection 24 said polished connection 24 overlays the surface of ring 10 and covers solder 20.

The present invention is a ring 10 and a method for forming gold and silver layered rings. Ring 10 of the present invention advantageously gives the appearance of a gold ring although it is fabricated of two metal blanks that are bonded together. The outer visible portion of ring 10 is formed of a gold blank 12 and gold blank 12 constitutes less than fifty percent of the weight of ring 10. A less expensive metal, such as silver, constitutes the majority of the weight of ring 10 and is on the inside of the finished ring 10. The combination of gold and silver blanks 12 and 14 into ring 10 results in a final ring 10 that has the outward appearance of a gold ring when actually, ring 10 is less than fifty percent gold. In a preferred embodiment, ring 10 is a combination of a laminate (multiple sheets of metal soldered and pressured into a single piece) that is formed with gold blank 12 attached to a sterling silver base blank 14. Gold blank 12 may be any gold composition, but is preferably 10, 14, or 18 karat as commonly known in the art.

A preferred metal for silver blank 14 is silver grain patented type “88” available from United Precious Metal Refining, Inc. (Alden, N.Y.).

Sterling Silver No. 88 is a proprietary deoxidized Sterling Silver formulation designed to eliminate fire scale, porosity and greatly improve tarnish resistance. Sterling Silver #88 sheet and wire products will be slightly softer than traditional Sterling Silver sheet and wire stock. Working characteristics of Sterling Silver #88 sheet and wire stock will be the same as traditional Sterling Silver.

Sterling Silver No. 88 alloy has low deoxidizing properties and helps eliminate undesired fire scale (a deep oxide of copper, formed below the surface of the silver, on prolonged heating) and porosity.

Although the present invention is described in terms of fabrication with gold and silver, the article of the invention and procedure for forming the article may be used with any combination of metals or metal alloys as desired.

Ring 10 of the present invention is made with a gold blank 12 formed such that, in a finished ring, gold from gold blank 12 is visibly perceived around a portion of outer surface 28 of ring 10 or with outer surface 28 being partially gold if desired.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 11, ring 10 has gold on 60% of the outer surface and there is 40% of silver on the outer surface. The entire interior surface is silver. Point “C” represents the center of a circle defined by ring 10 and points “A” and “B” each define a ray starting at point “C” and traveling away from the center of the circle such that central angle ACB is formed. Angle ACB has a measure of x degrees. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, angle ACB has a measure of 144° corresponding to 40% of the degree measure and circumference of a circle. The 40% silver portion is used for sizing the ring and is not readily visible when ring 10 is worn. Although the depicted embodiment provides one example of a percentage of gold on the outer circumferal surface, this percentage can be changed if desired.

The present invention uses a gold blank 12 with a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.50 cm and a sterling silver blank 14 with a preferred thickness of about 0.65 to 0.75 cm. Ring 10 of the present invention is formed of a majority of silver and is thus less expensive than a ring formed of solid gold or gold alloy.

Ring 10 of the present invention is formed by a procedure as follows:

Gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 are prepared from cut laminate metals. Each of the laminate metals that are cut to form gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 are cut to a desired thickness prior to said cut metals being cut into blanks. Each of gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 are cut using a stamping machine, which uses pressure to bend, shape, and cut metal as is known in the metalworking art. Silver blank 14 is subsequently stamped a second time such that a shelf bottom 15 and shelf side walls 17 is stamped thereon, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Shelf bottom 15 is surrounded on its perimeter by shelf side wall 17. Shelf bottom 15 and side wall 17 define a cavity that is constructed and arranged to accommodate receipt of gold blank 12 therein, as shown in FIG. 4. Gold blank 12 nests within cavity formed of side walls 17 and shelf bottom 15. Gold blank 12 nests securely in silver blank 14 in the stamped cavity of silver blank 14 that is defined by shelf bottom 15 and shelf side walls 17.

After the aforementioned stamping, gold blank 12 is attached to silver blank 14 using solder 16. Gold blank 12 is placed on top of silver blank 14 and each of blanks 12 and 14 are bonded and secured together, as set forth below, by a combination of successive steps involving solder, heat and pressure.

In a preferred embodiment, solder 16 is a paste solder which is a mixture of microscopic solder particles and flux, a chemical cleaning agent that facilitates soldering.

Depending on the desired application, soft solders, having a melting point in the range of about 700-720° F., medium solders having a melting point in the range of about 745-775° F., or hard solders having a melting point in the range of about 750-780° F., are selected. Alternatively, gold solders can be used in the method of the present invention.

Solder 16 is placed between gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 in any manner known in the art. After the soldering, the stamped and soldered assembly 19 of gold blank 12, silver blank 14, and solder 16, is passed through a solder oven (SM Engineering Inc., North Attleboro, Mass.) at 1650° F. degrees at a 12.5 oven speed setting. The oven control speed setting controls the speed of a belt that moves through the oven carrying assembly 19. The scale ranges from 0 (stop) to 100 (fastest). The temperatures and speed settings are adjusted as needed in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

The soldered, heat-treated assembly 19 of gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 is subsequently stamped again using about 5 tons of pressure per square inch utilizing a press (not shown) as is known in the art. The stamping creates a fused bond between gold blank 12 and silver blank 14. This subsequent stamping step typically produces an excess edge 18 as depicted in FIG. 5. The excess edge 18 is then removed, typically by cutting the excess edge, and the result is a trimmed bonded form as shown in FIG. 6.

The fused bonded assembly 19 of gold blank 12 and silver blank 14 is then turned into a ring shape using a ring bender or customized mechanical tooling, such as a foot press, as is known in the art. The foot press is used in the metalwork art to bend, shape, form and cut base metal during a fabrication process. The curved shape is shown generally in FIG. 7.

Sides, or end edges 11 and 13 of assembly 19 must be cut to ensure a perfect union between the two edge portions 11 and 13 to be soldered. The cut must be precise to eliminate the possibility of porosity on the weld line, i.e. the edges that are ultimately joined by solder. Precision cutting is performed by procedures known in the art.

The junction of edges 11 and 13 is a joint that is then bench soldered using wire silver solder 20. The solder is preferably a composition having the same or a substantially similar alloy composition as the ring and fine silver is used in the process.

The soldered ring 10 is then tumbled one hour in a magnetic tumbler to pre-polish.

After tumbling is complete, the ring 10 is buffed using a lapping disc on the edges and cotton and/or felt wheels on the inner and outer surfaces in a manner known in the art.

If desired, ring 10 is then stamped with a logo 26.

Optionally, a design is then cut into the ring using a diamond faceting machine known in the art, to a thickness from 0.02 cm to 0.50 cm depth and taking care such that the cutting cuts less than 20% of gold mass in ring 10.

The gold surface of ring 10 is optionally textured with a sandblasting machine or hand textured with different grades of sanding discs depending on desired design and finish of the outer surface of ring 10.

If desired, a stone (not shown) may be set on ring 10 depending on design.

Ring 10 is then polished and electro cleaned.

Finished ring 10 may optionally have a coating applied. Coatings are applied in methods known in the art, which may employ using a combination of a coating pen application, dipping ring 10 in a rhodium solution, or combinations thereof. Typically, coatings are applied with a minimum thickness of about 0.10 microns and range up to and including about 2.00 microns for the coating thickness.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A layered jewelry ring comprising: a. a first layer that encompasses a portion of the circumference on the outer surface of said ring; b. a second layer that encompasses substantially all of the circumference on the inner surface of said ring; c. a solder containing interface between said first layer and said second layer; whereby said first and second layer are bonded together to form a single fused assembly shaped into a ring.
 2. The ring of claim 1 wherein said first layer and said second layer are formed of the same material.
 3. The ring of claim 1 wherein said first layer and said second layer are formed of different materials.
 4. The ring of claim 1 wherein said first layer is formed of a metal, alloy, or combinations thereof.
 5. The ring of claim 1 wherein said first layer is formed of gold.
 6. The ring of claim 1 wherein said second layer is formed of a metal, alloy, or combinations thereof.
 7. The ring of claim 1 wherein said second layer is formed of silver.
 8. The ring of claim 1 wherein said first layer is about 0.05 to 0.50 cm thick.
 9. The ring of claim 1 wherein said second layer is about 0.65 to 0.75 cm thick.
 10. The ring of claim 1 wherein said second layer comprises more than fifty percent the weight of said ring.
 11. A layered ring comprising: a. a first layer formed of gold or gold alloy, said first layer encompasses a portion of the outer circumference of said ring; b. a second layer formed of silver or silver alloy, said second layer encompasses substantially all of the inner circumference of said ring; c. a solder containing interface between said first layer and said second layer; whereby said first and second layer are bonded together to form a single fused assembly shaped into a ring; said ring formed such that said first layer is the primary visible layer when said ring is worn.
 12. A method for manufacturing a ring of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) laminating a first plate to a desired thickness forming a first laminated plate; (b) laminating a second plate to a desired thickness forming a second laminated plate; (c) cutting a first blank from said first laminated plate; (d) cutting a second blank from said second laminated plate; (e) stamping a shelf on said second blank forming a stamped shelf; (f) soldering said first blank onto said second blank in an area defined by said stamped shelf, said soldered blanks collectively forming a soldered assembly; (g) passing said soldered assembly through an oven; (h) stamping said soldered assembly in a press and forming a bonded assembly with a fused edge; (i) cutting excess edge from said fused edge; (j) stamping a form onto said bonded assembly; (k) shaping said bonded assembly into a curved ring shape having two opposing ends; (l) cutting a joint on the ends of said curved bonded assembly; (m) soldering each of said ends one to another and forming a ring; and (n) polishing said ring.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising finishing said ring with desired designs, stone, stones, or combinations thereof. 